Charges dismissed against newspaper photographer
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Charges dismissed against newspaper photographer
- A superior court judge dismissed charges against a Connecticut Post photographer arrested in December for interfering with police.
Jan. 23, 2003 — A Durby superior court Wednesday dismissed charges filed against a Connecticut Post photographer apprehended by police in late December.
Christian Abraham was charged with interfering with police, escape from custody and simple trespass after taking pictures during the arrest of a man who led police on a car chase.
Abraham said he was initially about 15 feet from the arrest. He said he was ordered by police to back up and complied, then took a single flash picture when he was 20 or 30 feet away.
That’s when police handcuffed him and took him to a police stations where he was processed and released on his own recognizance.
“It was a mistake on their part,” Abraham said. “I’m just glad it’s over with so I can get on with my life as far as my job goes.”
Post Editor Frank Keegan said that he was relieved, but that it was important to keep the incident in perspective.
“We’ve got journalists around the world being murdered for doing their job,” Keegan said. “It was a good outcome. I don’t think it’s going to happen again around here.”
— JL
© 2003 The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
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